Collator for use with bursting machine



Sept. 14, 1965 c. L. SEIBERT ETAL 3,206,190

I GOLLATOR FOR USE WITH BURSTING MACHINE Filed March 2, 1964 ..F1 g if.22 45 4M? 24 Il 43 $118 3 lh l 2 h a fi n 25 31 4O 32 Z6 INVENTORSCLARENCE L.SE!BERT JOHN RIOPEL BY W ATTORNEY United States Patent3,206,199 COLLATQR FOR USE WZTH BURSTING MACHINE Clarence L. Seibert,18761 Newsom Ava, Cupertino, and John Riopel, 383 S. 20th St., San Jose,Calif. Filed Mar. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 348,557 Claims. (Cl. 270--59) Thepresent invention relates in general to collators, and more particularlyto a collator for use with a bursting machine.

High speed printing machines process continuously two-wide forms, whichare numbered or lettered in predetermined series. For example, one sideof the web may have consecutive even numbers printed thereon and theother side of the web may have consecutive odd numbers printed thereon.

As the continuous web advances through a bursting machine, the forms arecut down the middle. As the forms are ejected from the bursting machine,two forms emerge simultaneously side-by-side. This is a continuousprocess. Each pair of forms is burst into individual forms, one of whichis consecutively numbered or lettered relative to the other.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved collatorfor a bursting machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collator forreducing mechanical failures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collator thathas no operating moving parts for reducing service requirements arisingout of mechanical failure during the operation thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collator thatcan be installed with facility and ease of operation.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent to one skilled in the art from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is .a perspective view of the collator of the present inventionshown attached to a bursting machine.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the collator of the present inventionlooking toward the discharge end of the bursting machine and with partsthereof broken away to more clearly illustrate the configuration of thedelay section.

It is conventional to have high speed printers or bursting machines thatprocess continuously two-wide forms which have consecutive even numbersor letters in predetermined series printed down one side of the web oron one form and their complementary odd numbers or letters down theother side or on another form.

As the continuous web moves through the bursting machine, the marginsare removed by slitting knives and a slitting unit also divides the formdown the middle. As the forms are ejected from the bursting machine, twoindividual forms emerge simultaneously side-by-side. This is acontinuous process. Each pair of forms is burst simultaneously asindividual forms, one of which is consecutively numbered or letteredrelative to the other.

According to the present invention, the collator 10 of the presentinvention is disposed at the discharge end of a bursting machine A toreceive the simultaneously ejected side-by-side forms B and C. Thecollator 19 serves to speed the discharge of the form into a receptacle11 and delay the discharge of the complementary form C into thereceptacle 11, whereby in timed sequence the forms discharged from thebursting machine A will be arranged in a vertical stack in thereceptacle 11 with the form C resting on its complementary form B, whichwas discharged simultaneously therewith, and with the form B resting onthe form C that preceded it in being discharged from the burstingmachine A.

Patented Sept. 14, 1965 Illustrated in FIG. 1 is the well-known burstingmachine A. Disposed at the discharged end of the bursting machine A isthe collator ll of the present invention. The bursting machine Aincludes at its discharge end a platform 12 that is supported throughangularly disposed rods 13 and 14. The rods 13 and 14 are anchored tothe bursting machine A adjacent the discharge opening thereof. Formed inthe platform 12 is a longitudinally extending slot 15.

The collator 10 rests or seats on the upper surface of the platform 12through a floor or base of the receptacle 11. When desired, the collator10 may be adjustably secured to the platform 12 through a bolt and wingnut arrangement 21 that has the bolt received by the slot 15 and has thewing nut engaging the lower surface of the platform 12.

Spaced from the discharge end of the bursting machine A, the receptacle11 includes an adjustably positioned rear wall or back stop 22. The backstop 22 includes an upstanding wall 23 that has a vertical slot 24formed therein. In addition thereto, the back stop 22 includes anintegrally formed, rightangle, horizontal base 25 that extendslongitudinally toward the discharge end of the bursting machine A. Theback stop base 25 is disposed below the base 26 of the receptacle 11 andhas a longitudinally extended slot 26 formed therein.

For adjusting the effective length of the receptacle 11, the base 26) ofthe receptacle 11 has a suitable opening 39 therein. A bolt 29 isreceived by the opening 30 of the receptacle base 29, the slot 26 of theback stop base 25 and the slot 15 of the platform 12. A wing nut 31 isthreaded on the bolt 29 and engages the lower surface of a washer 32,which in turn engages through its upper surface the lower surface of theplatform 12. Thus, the nut 31 is loosened to permit the back stop 22 tobe moved toward or away from the discharged end of the bursting machineA for adjusting the ei ective length of the receptacle 11. After thedesired length is achieved for the receptacle 11, the nut 31 istightened for securing the back stop 22 to the receptacle 11 and therear end of receptacle 11 to the platform 12.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the receptacle 1]. also includes anintegrally formed side wall 35. Clamped to a transverse rod 36 of theburster machine A is a downwardly directed, longitudinally extending,yieldable, form engaging arm 37. Preferably, the arm 37 is formed from aleaf spring. At its proximal end, the arm 37 is anchored at thedischarge end of the bursting machine A by means of a clamp 38 that isecured to the rod 36. The distal end of the arm 37 is received by theslot 24 of the bass stop 22. The arm 37 is directed downwardly from therod 36 toward the back stop 22.

When a form B is discharged from the bursting machine A, the form Badvances below the yieldable arm 37 to be received by the receptacle 11.The arm 37 serves to guide the movement of the form B into thereceptacle 11 and also to increase the speed of travel into thereceptacle 11. As the vertical stack of forms in the receptacle 11increases in height, the yieldable arm 37 is elevated therewith andtends to move toward a horizontal position.

Confronting the side wall of the receptacle 11 and disposed adjacent theopposite side of the receptacle 11 is a form delay chute 49. The formdelay chute 40 comprises an angularly disposed wall 41 that is inclinedupwardly and outwardly with respect to the base 20 of the receptacle 11and extends longitudinally along a side thereof. Joining the angularlydisposed wall 41 is a longitudinally extending, horizontal wall 42 ofthe form delay chute 4t). Continuing from the horizontal wall 42 is anupwardly and outwardly directed inclined wall 43 of the form delay chute40. It is to be observed that the angle of inclination for the wall 41is greater than the angle of inclination of the wall 43 taken relativeto the base 20 of the receptacle 11 or the horizontal wall 42. The wall42 and the base 2%) are parallel to one another.

Fixed to the end of the walls 41-43 in the vicinity of the back stop 22is an end wall 44 of the form delay chute 4d. The wall 44 is secured tothe walls 41-43 by suitable means, such as rivets. At the opposite endof the form delay chute 49 is located an end wall 45, which is alsosecured to the walls 41 13 by rivets. Secured by screws to the end wall45 is an upstanding post 46. Adjustably mounted on the post 46 is a formguide 47, which has a vertical slot 48 formed therein. Screws 49adjustably secure the form guide 47 to the post 46 for regulating theheight of the form guide 47. The height of the upright form guide 47 isslightly above the transverse rod 36. The form C, when discharged,passes over the form guide 47.

\Vhen the form C is discharged from the bursting machine A into the formdelay chute 40, it is advancing in the direction of the end wall 44. Asa consequence thereof, the form C at its leading end engages the wall 44and at its lower surface contacts initially the walls 43 and 42. Theimpact of the form C with the end wall 44 causes the form C to changeits direction of travel and advance sidewise toward the receptacle 11.In travelling sidewise, the form C slides down the wall 41 into thereceptacle 11. As a result of the foregoing, the travel time for theform C to reach the receptacle 11 for stacking is greater than thetravel time for the form B, ejected simultaneously therewith, to reachthe receptacle 11 for stacking.

In the operation of the collator 10, forms B and C are ejectedsimultaneously from the bursting machine A. Form B falls directly intothe receptacle 11 and the speed of travel therefor is increased by theaction of the yieldable arm 37.

The form C is discharged into the form delay chute 40. As a consequencethereof, the leading end of the form C engages the wall 44 causing theform C to change its direction of travel. This results in the form Ctravelling sidewise toward the receptacle 11 and engaging in slidingcontact the walls 43, 42 and 41. The form C is now stacked onto the formB. Both forms B and C are vertically stacked with the form C resting onthe form B. The succeeding forms B and C are stacked in the same mannerwith the succeeding form B, however, resting on the preceding form C.

It is to be observed that the form C emerging from the bursting machineA is delayed by the form delay chute 40 through the action of the endwall 44- and the configuration of the walls 43, 42 and 41. This actionallows proper timing to vertically stack the forms discharged by thebursting machine A in the proper sequence and consecutive order.

From the foregoing, it is noted that the collator of the presentinvention has no moving parts and, hence, reduces service requirementsarising out of wear and tear. Further, the collator It) can be installedwith facility and ease operation. The length and depth of the receptacle11 can be altered to accommodate the size of form being collated.

It is to be understood that modifications and variations of theembodiment of the invention disclosed herein may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A collator adapted for use with a bursting machine which discharges aplurality of forms simultaneously, said collator comprising a support, areceptacle on said support for receiving directly one of said forms, anda chute on said support disposed adjacent to said receptacle forreceiving another of said forms, said chute comprising an upwardlydirected flat wall stop disposed in the path of travel of the leadingend of said other form to stop the forward motion of said other form forchanging the direction of travel of said other form to enable said chuteto direct said other form sidewise into said receptacle for stackingsaid other form with said one form in a predetermined sequence.

2. A collator adapted for use with a bursting machine which discharges aplurality of forms simultaneously, said collator comprising a support, areceptacle on said support for receiving directly one of said forms, anda chute on said support disposed adjacent to said receptacle forreceiving another of said forms, said chute comprising an upwardlydirected flat wall stop disposed in the path of travel of the leadingend of said other form to stop the forward motion of said other form forchanging the direction of travel of said other form and a declining walldeclining in a direction toward said receptacle for directing said otherform in a sidewise movement into said receptacle and for supporting saidother form in its sidewise movement toward sa-id receptacle for stackingsaid other form with said one form in a timed sequence and in apredetermined order.

3. A collator adapted for use with a bursting machine which discharges aplurality of forms simultaneously, said collator comprising a support, areceptacle on said support for receiving directly one of said forms, ayieldable arm disposed above said receptacle for urging said one formdirectly into said receptacle, and a chute on said support disposedadjacent to said receptacle for reeiving another of said forms, saidchute comprising an upwardly directed wall stop disposed in the path oftravel of the leading end of said other form to stop the forward motionof said other form for changing the direction of travel of said otherform and a declining wall declining in a direction towards saidreceptacle for directing said other form in a sidewise movement intosaid receptacle and for supporting said other form in its sidewisemovement towards said receptacle for stacking said other form with saidone form in a timed sequence and in a predetermined order.

4-. A stacker adapted for use with a bursting machine which discharges aplurality of forms, said stacker comprising a receptacle for receivingdirectly a form, said receptacle including an upright rear wall with avertically disposed slot formed therein, a yieldable arm disposed abovesaid receptacle with its free end received by said slot, said yieldablearm being arranged to urge a form into said receptacle, and meansdisposed adjacent to the forward end of said receptacle for supportingthe proximal end of said yieldable arm.

5. A stacker adapted for use with a bursting machine which discharges aplurality of forms, said stacker comprising a receptacle for receivingdirectly a form, said receptacle including a base and an upright rearwall with a vertically disposed slot formed therein, means foradjustably securing said upright wall relative to said base forregulating the effective length of said receptacle, a yieldable armdisposed above said base with its free end received by said slot, saidyieldable arm being arranged to urge a form into said receptacle, andmeans disposed adjacent the forward end of said receptacle forsupporting the proximal end of said yieldable arm.

6. A collator adapted for use with a bursting machine which discharges aplurality of forms simultaneously, said collator comprising a support, areceptacle on said support for receiving directly one of said forms,said receptacle including an upright rear wall with a verticallydisposed slot formed therein, a yieldable arm disposed above saidreceptacle with its free end received by said slot, said yieldable armbeing arranged to urge said one form into said receptacle, meansdisposed adjacent the forward end of said receptacle for receiving theproximal end of said yieldable arm, and a chute on said support disposedadjacent to said receptacle for receiving another of said forms, saidchute comprising a. wall stop disposed in the path of travel of theleading end of said other form to stop the forward motion of said otherform for changing the direction of travel of said other form and adeclining wall declining in a direction toward said receptacle fordirecting said other form in .a sidewise movement into said receptacleand for supporting said other form in its sidewise movement toward saidreceptacle for stacking said other form with said one form in a timedsequence and in a predetermined order.

7. A collator adapted for use with a bursting machine which discharges aplurality of forms simultaneously, said collator comprising a support, areceptacle on said support for receiving directly one of said forms,said receptacle including a base and an upright rear wall with avertically disposed slot formed therein, means for adjustably securingsaid upright wall to said base for regulating the efiective length ofsaid receptacle, a yieldable arm disposed above said base with its freeend received by said slot, said yieldable arm being arranged to urgesaid one form into said receptacle, means for supporting the proximalend of said yieldable arm, and a chute on said support disposed adjacentto said receptacle for receiving another of said forms, said chute.comprising a wall stop disposed in the path of travel of the leading endof said other form to stop the forward motion of said other form forchanging the direction of travel of said other form and a declining walldeclining in a direction toward said receptacle for directing said otherform in a sidewise movement into said receptacle and for supporting saidother form in its sidewise movement toward said receptacle for stackingsaid other form with said one form in a timed sequence and in apredetermined order.

8. A collator adapted for use with a bursting machine which discharges aplurality of forms simultaneously, said collator comprising a support, areceptacle on said support for receiving directly one of said forms,said receptacle including a base and an upright rear wall with avertically disposed slot formed therein, means for adjustably securingsaid upright wall to said base for regulating the effective length ofsaid receptacle, a yieldable arm disposed above said base with its freeend received by said slot, said yieldable arm being arranged to urgesaid one form into said receptacle, means for supporting the proximalend of said yieldable arm, a chute on said support disposed adjacent tosaid receptacle for receiving another of said forms, said chutecomprising a wall stop disposed in the path of travel of the leading endof said other form to stop the forward motion of said other form forchanging the direction of travel of said other form and a declining walldeclining in a direction toward said receptacle for directing said otherform in a sidewise movement into said receptacle and for supporting saidother form in its sidewise movement toward said receptacle for stackingsaid other form with said one form in a timed sequence and in apredetermined order, an upright post on said chute for guiding saidother form into said chute, and means on said post for adjusting theeffective height thereof.

9. A collator adapted for use with a bursting machine which discharges aplurality of forms simultaneously, said collator comprising a support, areceptacle on said support for receiving directly one of said forms, anda chute on said support disposed adjacent to said receptacle forreceiving another of said forms, said chute comprising an upwardlydirected ilat wall stop disposed in the path of travel of the leadingend of said other form to stop the forward motion of said other form forchanging the direction of travel of said other form and a declining walldisposed at right angles to said upwardly directed fiat wall stop anddeclining in a direction toward said receptacle for directing said otherform in a sidewise movement into said receptacle and for supporting saidother form in its sidewise movement toward said receptacle for stackingsaid other form with said one form in a timed sequence and in apredetermined order.

10. A collator adapted for use with a bursting machine which dischargesa plurality of forms simultaneously, said collator comprising a support,a receptacle on said support for receiving directly one of said forms,and a chute on said support disposed adjacent to said receptacle forreceiving another of said forms, said chute comprising an upwardlydirected flat wall stop disposed in the path of travel of the leadingend of said other form to stop the forward motion of said other form forchanging the direction of travel of said other form and a step decliningwall disposed at right angles to said upwardly directed flat wall stopand declining in a direction toward said receptacle for directing saidother form in a sidewise movement into said receptacle and forsupporting said other form in its sidewise movement toward saidreceptacle for stacking said other form with said one form in a timedsequence and in a predetermined order.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,513,093 6/50Hageman 27058 X 2,661,215 12/53 Stevens 27058 X 3,108,796 10/63 Dietrick27058 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

1. A COLLATOR ADAPTED FOR USE WITH A BURSTING MACHINE WHICH DISCHARGES A PLURALITY OF FORMS SIMULTANEOUSLY, SAID COLLATOR COMPRISING A SUPPORT, A RECEPTACLE ON SAID SUPPORT FOR RECEIVING DIRECTLY ONE OF SAID FORMS, AND A CHUTE ON SAID SUPPORT DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID RECEPTACLE FOR RECEIVING ANOTHER OF SAID FORMS, SAID CHUTE COMPRISING AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED FLAT WALL STOP DISPOSED IN THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE LEADING END OF SAID OTHER FORM TO STOP THE FORWARD MOTION OF SAID OTHER FORM FOR CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF SAID OTHER FORM TO ENABLE SAID CHUTE TO DIRECT SAID OTHER FORM SIDEWISE INTO SAID RECEPTACLE FOR STACKING SAID OTHER FORM WITH SAID ONE FORM IN A PREDETERMINED SEQUENCE. 